The New 52 Interviews: Nightwing

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Kyle Higgins talks about the future of Dick Grayson.

By Joey Esposito

To celebrate the relaunch of the DC Universe with 52 brand new #1 issues, IGN is doing an interview series with the creative teams behind this historic comics event. IGN Comics is your place to go behind the inner workings of these new books and find out what to expect from the new DCU.

IGN Comics: You've spoken before about your love of Nightwing. What is it about Dick Grayson as Nightwing, as opposed to Robin or Batman, that appeals to you?

Kyle Higgins: Well actually, my love of Dick as Nightwing is predicated on my love of him as Robin and Batman. He grew up a sidekick, studying under the best, then left to spread his proverbial "wings" but ultimately came back to take his mentor's place. In a medium where change is hard to facilitate, Dick is a character that has grown and developed -- he's a character who is built on the very idea of change.

So with all of these experiences playing a large part in his growth and development as both a hero and a person, how he operates as this "new" Nightwing is something I'll be exploring in my second arc -- Dick's methods in Gotham are very much an amalgamation of what worked for him as Nightwing and what worked for him as Batman. Tactics, techniques… even certain things with the new costume have been chosen by Dick for very specific reasons -- which kind of gets me to my second point.

This may be sacrilegious to say, but I actually believe that, going forward, Dick can be a better hero for Gotham as Nightwing than Bruce can be as Batman. While Batman will always be a symbol of fear to criminals, I believe Nightwing can be something more… a symbol of hope to the people. This is in large part due to the fundamental difference between the two men—Bruce helps people out of guilt, while Dick helps people because he enjoys helping people. And if you're going to fight for a city's future, hope and inspiration can be powerful tools.

IGN: We know that the book acknowledges Dick's time as Batman, but will we see any sort of developments as to why he gave up the mantle when this series begins?

Higgins: You know, we've talked about it, but other than the feeling that he prefers being Nightwing to being Batman, no, we probably won't see anything like this. There's a very focused, concerted effort by everyone at DC to push to the future and not get caught up in old continuity—which, I know, is a conundrum since our first arc is very heavy on Dick's past—but at this point, while we're acknowledging Dick's time as Batman and how he grew and developed during it, we're not going to be mining it too much in the way that you're talking about.

IGN: What led to the decision of Nightwing operating within Gotham as opposed to Bludhaven on his own?

Higgins: Thematically, I felt it was quite important for Dick to continue his campaign in Gotham, especially coming off what Scott [Snyder] did in Detective and what he and I did with Ryan [Parrott] in Gates of Gotham. Before Dick came to take over as Batman, he had spent several years avoiding the city.

In fact, it was only in returning to fill some of the largest boots in the world that he began to embrace the place and all the terrible things it was going to throw at him. As a result, with Gotham having changed around him, there's an argument to be made that the city may belong to him now more than it does Bruce. Which, again, is something Scott and I will be exploring in both our books.

The other factor in all this has to do with where I see Dick at as a person. If you think about the genesis of the original Nightwing series, it started out of a similar event—Prodigal Son, where Dick was Batman. There was a lot of angst between Dick and Bruce, over Dick being passed up in favor of Jean Paul Valley… and even more in regards to Bruce returning and taking the cowl back from Dick. Dick quit for a little while, before ultimately going to Bludhaven to work a case for Bruce. However, there was some that manifested itself in Dick feeling that he needed to prove himself to Bruce.

So, while the dynamic made for great stories, I don't think Dick is at that point emotionally anymore. He knows Gotham as well as anyone, and has a vested interest in continuing his fight there. To run off to another city just because he's not Batman anymore would undercut everything Scott did for the character. In my mind, it would also revert him back to the days of looking for Bruce's approval. The second the decision was made that Dick had still been Batman in the relaunch, the choice to keep him in Gotham was an easy one for me.

IGN: You're incorporating Haly's Circus – the show that led to the death of his parents. What mystery or threat does its return bring to Nightwing?

Higgins: It's a threat that has deep ties to who Dick is… and who he was supposed to be. Mr. Haly touches on it a little bit in issue 2, and we'll continue to explore it more during our first year.

IGN: What kind of a supporting cast can we expect in Nightwing, aside from the usual suspects of Bruce and co.? Are you creating any new characters specifically for this title?

Higgins: I'm creating a lot, actually. It's one of the most exciting -- and daunting -- aspects of the relaunch. Like I said before, there's a big focus on "new," which extends to all supporting casts, villains, etc. The circus characters play a part in the book, and will continue to even after our first arc… though it won't be in the way that anyone expects.

IGN: In the past, Dick Grayson served as a Bludhaven cop when he wasn't playing vigilante. Is that something you're interested in bringing back or is he planted firmly at Wayne Industries?

Higgins: You know, I would love to bring back Officer Grayson, but it's not the direction we're going in the series. But to that point, he's not going to be involved at Wayne Industries, either. At present, the circus is his priority as he tries to protect it and uncover the secrets that someone paid Saiko to kill him over. Going forward, I have a career in mind that actually works to some of the themes I mentioned above. I mean, after all, Dick Grayson is kind of the "prince" of Gotham…

IGN: Does Batman, Inc. play a role in your opening issues of Nightwing?

Higgins: Nope! I have no idea what Grant is doing, and I wouldn't have it any other way -- it means I get to be just as surprised as everyone else when I pick it up!

IGN: Dick is kind of a player – can we expect to see any romantic developments with Babs, Starfire, or someone completely new?

Higgins: As I'm sure you could tell by issue 2, Dick is still a bit of a player. As for Babs and Starfire, there's nothing planned there… except for a Batgirl/Nightwing team-up! Between Gail's issue #3 of Batgirl and my issue #4 of Nightwing, I think it'll be pretty clear to fans where things stand in their relationship.